U POLITICAL AND RELIGIOUS CONDITION

135 B.C., the second from 175-161. Hence 1 Maccabees starts
with the accession of Antiochus Epiphanes in 175 and ends
with the death of Simon, the third of the Maccabees, in 135.
It is a record of military and political history, given in chrono-
kxrieal order. The author is unknown. We can only infer
that he was an ardent patriot and of Palestinian origin, since
he gives many details which could only be of interest to some-
one who knew the country well. He may not have taken an
active part himself in the events he chronicles, but he certainly
knew those who did, and he delights in political discussion. In
accordance with his strong Hasmon&an feeling he speaks well of
the High Priest throughout the book.1

The redaction of the book must have taken place after the
accession of John Hyreanus, in 135 B.C., since this prince is
mentioned in xvi, 23-4, and before 63 B.C., the date of Pompey's
activities in Jerusalem, for the author would not have spoken
so highly of the Romans if he had known of their outrage on
the Holy City. All things considered, the work may be assigned
to the period between 100 and 70 B.C.

It was written first in Aramaic and then translated into
Greek, not without undergoing certain changes in the process,
if we accept the view that the version used by Josephus differed
somewhat from ours.2 This, however, is not certain. The
author made use chiefly of first-hand information and the
traditions which he had collected himself. He added several
official documents, and alludes on at least two occasions (ix, 22
and xvi, 24) to earlier writings known to him.3 He was evidently
not without literary experience, and even shows some skill in.
the presentation of his material.

The man himself gives the impression of being a good Jew,
pious and honourable, somewhat credulous, but conscientious
and moderate in his judgments. In speaking of the enemies
of Israel he shows a restraint which is unusual in one of his
race. He is deliberately silent on occasion ; for instance, he
does not breathe a word about the frightful scandal caused by
the impious behaviour of the two High Priests, Jason and
Menelaus ; but at least he does not try to give false impressions,
or to fill the gaps with inventions of his own. We may not feel

1 1 Mace. v. 62 ; xiii. 3 ; xiv. 25 ; xvi. 2 ; etc.

2 Destinon, Die Quellen des Josephus, 1882, p. 8 ff. Only the Greek
version has survived.

3 We read in ix, 22, that " the rest of the acts of Judas . . ., which made
him famous, have not been written," from which we may assume the exist-
ence of written documents used by our author to substantiate his narra-
tive, xvi, 24, indicates that other acts of John Hyreanus are written in
the book of his priesthood.